Darin Fowler - Josephine County Commissioner

Josephine County Commissioner Darin Fowler has been a Grants Pass native for nearly all of his life.

Join us as Darin talks about his life and times in Southern Oregon, to leaving his successful electrical business to run for office. As well as current events such as COVID-19 and the importance of getting kids back to school.

Transcription

Brian: Darin Fowler has lived in Josephine county for 47 years. Starting a successful business and raising his family here. For 25 years he has volunteered as a coach, Sunday school teacher and in local government. Darin Fowler, welcome to Grants Pass VIP.

Darin: Good morning. How are you?

Brian: Doing good, doing good. Really appreciate being here, just so the rest of you know, we're in the end of July of 2020, still dealing with the effects of the COVID crisis.

Besides that, let's get straight into who you are and what you're all about. Where would everybody know you from Darin?

Darin: Well, I've lived here almost my whole life.

My parents moved here when I was four in 1970. A lot of people I know from school, found my wife at the schools here. And then my kids went to the same schools. I bought the house across the street from the one I grew up in.

My kids ended up with the same school, same teachers. And now my grandson lives six blocks away and he goes to the same school so it's been really fun.

So you might know me as a soccer coach or a soccer referee, along the way I did a lot of that. Basketball coach for kids.

And then I've been electrician for 33 years. So most people would know me from my electrician profession. And I still have that business. I like to put in a few plugs on the weekend.

But then 12 years ago, I started getting involved in local politics.

So some people know me because of that. I was on the city council, right after they recalled five city councilors, you know, around '08 or '09, right in there.

My two fellow Commissioners in this county office, were part of this group that got in on that five recalled city councilors, and we got in and I spent 10 years over at the city three as a city councilor, and six and a half as mayor.

Now I have this full time job as Josephine County Commission. Now I've met new people that just know me as a county commissioner.

It's been interesting staying in the same community, find a way to make a living, and then serving my community as a public servant. It's been really fun.

Brian: So ever since originally moving here, have you lived here the whole time?

Darin: Almost. Yep. After high school here, you kind of get that itch, I wonder what it's like outside of Grants Pass? And I got to get the heck out of here.

I was fortunate enough to friend was going to San Diego. So I moved in with him in San Diego and learn how to be an electrician down there in San Diego was a pretty fun place to be 18 to 21.

We did have some fun, but when it's time to have a family and settle into the normal family unit like I did, I found out they were actually paying more for electricians in Grants Pass and they weren't San Diego, because there's a very restrictive licensing law in Oregon that California didn't have.

I came up here and was making good money for a young man. And it's been a really excellent trade. It's fun to know something.

Brian: other than the career, what other reasons is there to come to Grants Pass and stay in Grants Pass?

Darin: Well and I always say that if you could find a way to make a living here. Who wouldn't want to live here?

It's just beautiful. The weather, it's the climate. The coast is close. Mountains and rivers are all around you.

If you can find a way to make a living here, you would love to live here and I have enjoyed it because your kids feel safe out in the street in front of your house. There's the Boys and Girls Club in the basketball and the soccer and baseball and all those sports.